CPE Curriculum

Plan of Instruction

The program is 21 months in length, and includes a total of 79 semester hours.

Phase I The first two semesters consist of clinical experience plus didactic course work that includes classes in clinical perfusion, pathology, pharmacology, research methodology, management, and electronics.

Phase II
The Summer Session, in between the first and second years, introduces the student to the applied aspects of extra-corporeal circulation through wet-lab experiences and simulated cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. During this semester the students also continue their clinical education at The Nebraska Medical Center.

Phase III The remaining 8 months consist of clinical rotations (1 to 2 months in length) at outside clinical affiliate hospitals. Finalization of the student's research project is also completed.

Outside employment is discouraged during the the program. While every effort will be made to assist a student if a difficulty should arise due to classes or health, the student must complete the previous classes or rotations before advancing to the next semester.